Whoa boy am I getting a lot of queries these days.
In addition to the 400 or so I received over the holidays, I came in this morning to another 100+ that had accumulated over the weekend. To put that in perspective, last year I received about 110 over a three day weekend, and that had been a record.
I’m not totally sure why this all is happening, but I’m guessing it’s a combo of:
– NaNoWriMo novels have been edited and are ready for submission
– Contests tend to bring new blog readers and new blog readers tend to bring queries
– People had some time over the holidays to prep their submissions
– Cylon virus weakening human race by compelling people to spend time writing novels instead of fighting robot uprising
And yet, despite my best guesses there are also some slightly unexplainable aspects to this new deluge. For instance, I’m receiving an abnormally high volume of personal religious manifestos. Why? I have no idea. Certain trends just come in waves.
I also really do believe we’re in a cultural moment where an abnormally high percentage of the population is either writing or thinking about writing a novel.
I’m not complaining about all of this – after all, many of these new projects are quite good! It’s just making for a tricky couple of post-holiday weeks.
Any personal theories about the query deluge?
New Year's resolutions.
Aliens.
Hive minds. It would explain everything.
People are out of work or working lower paying jobs and thinking this is an "easy" way to get money. Ha!
I'm still betting that high unemployment overall, and vast layoffs in the newspaper industry, have given free time to a lot of people who always have wanted to write a novel. How many newspaper and magazine writers have been slowly pecking away at a novel in their desk drawer.
Why this surge after the holidays–probably a combo of the above, plus New Year's resolutions to finally start sending out queries (or more queries).
Don't you think maybe it has to do with your immense popularity? I'm sure everyone wants to hang with you. And also, no one wants to fight robots.
The universe is a sick puppy with an evil sense of humor? A sarcastic fate fairy knew I was nearing completion of my novel and prompted everyone to slap something together and start agent shopping? Hear the upward, questioning inflection in my comment? A little Stewie Griffin perhaps? Could I possibly be a little bitter about the query influx of late? Good luck, Mr. Bransford. Try to keep your head above water, or words. Whatever.
the impending doom of twenty-twelve has fueled people's inner creative childs. now the better question is what percentage of the queries are actually solid ones?
Maybe the religious stuff is from people worried about the world ending in 2012. Actually, that could explain all the novels. You need to get in quick to get it published before the zombie apocalypse of 2012.
I agree, it could be aliens but more likely all of those out of work people taking time off to right the "Great American Novel". What other job can you do sitting at home in your PJ's and watching the judge shows on TV?
Not that that's what I do…I don't even like judge shows.
Wow, Richard and I posted about 2012 at exactly the same time. If that's not proof of an ancient Mayan prophecy coming true, I don't know what is.
Could be the expanding population.
I'm blaming it on the success of the Harry Potter, Twilight, and Dan Brown. People see these books turned into a movie and think "Hey, I should write a book."
I'm going with the Cylons – they're tricky that way. 🙂
After reading 650+, 500 word entries filled with teenage hormones… Everyone is convinced that you are superhuman and can do it all!!!
So what is 100+ queries… I am sure you will be receiving a few more from some of us (wink,wink)
Damn. Now that just sucks. Seriously. I am about a week away from having my manuscript and my query letter polished.
And my book has a theological bent to it.
Damn.